Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards Archives

2019 Knife of the Year® Award Winners & Custom Knife Award Winners – BLADE Show (Updated With New Photos)

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June 8, 2019

2019 Knife of the Year® Award Winners & Custom Knife Award Winners – BLADE Show (Updated With New Photos)

Atlanta, Georgia (June 8, 2019) – Awards recognizing the highest achievement in the production and custom knife industries were bestowed the evening of Saturday, June 8, 2019, at the BLADE Show in the Cobb Galleria.

2019 BLADE Show Knife of the Year® Award Winners

Representatives from BLADE (www.blademag.com) distributed BLADE Magazine Knife of the Year® awards in 11 categories, plus awards for individuals’ career achievements. All entrants in the Knife of the Year® competition were evaluated by a super panel of undisclosed judges on a number of factors, including utility, design, creativity, materials, aesthetics, feel and other traits. This was different from years past, when booth holders at the show voted by ballot.

Overall Knife of the Year®: FOX Knives Radius

Judges commented on the innovative opening mechanism and quality workmanship. The patent-pending mechanism requires the user to slightly depress and move the button along the U-shaped track for opening and closing.

The Radius also brings home the Imported Knife of the Year® award.

American-Made Knife of the Year®: Microtech Socom Elite

This exemplary automatic is a hallmark of the American knife industry.

Most Innovative American Design: Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight

Spyderco knocked out about a third of the weight (and the price point) of the standard Para 3 for this lightweight version.

Most Innovative Imported Design: WE Knife .037

WE’s takedown design makes simplicity look easy. The company describes the .037 as sporting “self-locating interlocking tab frame construction.”

Best Buy of the Year: CRKT CEO

The CEO brings gents’ knives to the masses with its $49.99 price point.

Investor/Collector Knife of the Year®: ProTech Warenski/Brend Masterpiece Custom

ProTech continues to dominate this category with another attractive entry for investors. This one must be seen to be believed, but you’ll need to shell out $12,000.

Manufacturing Quality Award: Chris Reeve Knives

It’s not enough to perform at a high level once or twice. Chris Reeve Knives’s consistency in craftsmanship is key to this win.

Accessory of the Year: Outdoor Edge Para Spark

This survival bracelet is handy and just plain cool. Using the latch as a sheath is a nice touch.

Collaboration of the Year: Casstrom/Lars Falt/CAS Iberia Lars Falt Lockback

Simplicity equals versatility, as this lockback demonstrates, and yet the distinct touches of the collaboration still shine through.

Kitchen Knife of the Year®: Apogee Dragon Storm (set of 4)

This set demonstrates the intersection of art and utility at a high level for a production kitchen knives.

Individual Achievement

Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® Inductees: Mel Pardue and Tony Bose (read the article here)

Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® Inductee (by proclamation): BLADE Editor Steve Shackleford – This came as a surprise to Shackleford, who was emceeing the ceremony. Inductees typically know they will be honored before the event. However, with the blessing of the others in the Hall of Fame, Shackleford was inducted by Bruce Voyles, former publisher of BLADE.

Adam Drescher movies — Adam Drescher (middle) during a break between scenes of the upcoming movie, The Mule.
At right is Clint Eastwood and at left is character actor Richard Herd. Adam owns Adam
Unlimited, which specializes in exotic skins for the knife and motorcycle industries, especially
rayskin. (Photos by Images courtesy of Adam Drescher)

Publisher’s Award: Adam Drescher (read the article here)

Industry Achievement Award: Lucas Burnley, for his charitable work with Toys for Tots

Aldo and Edda Lorenzi Award: Bill Ruple (this award comes with a $1,000 cash prize from the Lorenzi family to support the custom knife industry)

2019 BLADE Show Custom Knife Winners

The 2019 BLADE Show Custom Knife Award Winners were also announced on Saturday, June 8, 2019, at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta.

Best in Show: Harvey Dean

Best Art Knife: Veronique Laurent

Best Folder: Javier Vogt

Best Bowie: Jerry Fisk

Best Kitchen Knife: Doberman Forge

Best Fixed Blade: Harvey Dean

Best Damascus: Franco Custom Knives

Best New Maker: Esnyx Knives

Best Collaboration: David Lisch & Andrew Meers

Best Handle Design: Ben Breda

Best Fighter: Brian Sellers

Best of the Rest: Ron Newton

Most Innovative Design: RJ Martin

Best Utility Hunter: Ben Breda

Best Sword: Vince Evans

Best Mini: Ohbuchi Isao

About BLADE Show

The BLADE Show is the world’s largest, most important knife show, and has taken place every year since 1982 and in Atlanta since 1992. Upwards of 1,000 exhibitors from more than 20 countries display their knives and knife-related items over a three-day cutlery celebration that also features BLADE University knife seminars, knife auctions, custom knife awards, celebrity appearances and much more.

About BLADE

BLADE® Magazine (www.blademag.com) is the world’s No.1 knife publication. It is also the world’s oldest knife magazine, publishing its first issue in 1973. In conjunction with the BLADE Show, it has sponsored the Knife of the Year® Awards annually since 1982. The awards are the most coveted honors in the factory knife industry and are voted on by the booth exhibitors at the BLADE Show, who this year number more than 200. Only BLADE Show booth exhibitors are eligible to enter.

The BLADE Show and BLADE Magazine are the properties of Caribou Media LLC.

Blade Magazine 2012 Most Innovative American Design

Steve Shackleford

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September 27, 2012

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The AUTONOMY, by SPYDERCO

•Designer: Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Sal Glesser

•Pattern: Automatic folder

•Blade steel: H-1

•Blade length: 3.65”

•Blade pattern: Sheepfoot/rescue

•Blade grind: Hollow

•Blade finish: Satin (and a future DLC-coated version)

•Edge configuration: SpyderEdge

•Handle material: G10

•Closed length: 4.92”

•Operating/locking mechanism: Modified button lock

•Weight: 5.5 ozs.

•MSRP: $350+

The Blade Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards are voted on each year at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) by the show’s exhibiting booth holders, plus a panel of five special judges, the latter whose votes count double. The 2013 BLADE Show will be held May 31-June 2, once again at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.

For the latest knives, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?lid=blss092712

Share Your Knife Memories of Rob Simonich

Steve Shackleford

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November 19, 2013

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Share Your Knife Memories of Rob Simonich

If you knew knifemaker Rob Simonich, share your memories of him with us on www.blademag.com.

BLADE® field editor Dexter Ewing has written the story, “Heart and Soul,” in the February BLADE which remembers Rob on the 10th anniversary of the death of one of knifemaking’s favorite sons. Killed tragically in a truck accident, Rob was loved by many, and his award-winning knives were among the best of their time—and they still hold up today.

Ten years is a long time, and a lot of people have come into the knife industry since Rob’s passing that do not know of the kind of person he was. If you knew Rob, you can help them know what kind of person he was by sharing some of your favorite memories of him.

Though Rob was taken away far too soon, he left an indelible mark on the knife industry, and, of course, his wife Christine and daughter Megan. Rob loved to break new ground in terms of knives, especially with blade materials such as Talonite® and CPM S30V. His knives won a number of awards, including his Urban Raven taking home the BLADE Magazine 2003 American-Made Knife Of The Year®.

As good as his knives were—and they were extremely well thought of and accepted by knife enthusiasts—it was Rob’s warm smile and sincere manner that helped him win over many friends. He loved people and he loved the outdoors, and it showed in most everything he did.

He also loved the BLADE Show and made it a point to attend every one he could. It was there that he made many friends in the industry.

How about it? Care to share any memories? We’d love to hear them—as would those who both knew him and those who want to know more about him.

For the latest knives, knife trends, knife news and more, stay tuned to www.blademag.com.

World’s Most Important Knife Awards

Steve Shackleford

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May 22, 2013

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The world’s most important knife awards—the BLADE Magazine 2013 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards—will be named next week at the BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo (www.bladeshow.com).

Set for May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, the BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo attracts knife manufacturers and knifemakers from all over the world to display and sell their knives.

Companies that rent booths at the show are eligible to enter knives and/or accessories in the Knife-Of-The-Year Awards competition, which includes categories for 10 factory knives, one accessory and two individuals who have furthered the betterment of the knife industry.

The Knife-Of-The-Year categories are: Overall, American Made, Imported, Most Innovative American Design, Most Innovative Imported Design, Manufacturing Quality, Best Buy, Investor/Collector, Kitchen Knife, Knife Collaboration, Accessory, Publisher’s and Industry Achievement. The winners will be announced the Saturday night of the show during the BLADE Magazine Awards Banquet in the Cobb Galleria Centre (tickets required). The winners will be listed outside the BLADE Show office in the Galleria Centre the morning after.

There is a Knife-Of-The-Year Display Area in the BLADE Show hall for entrants to display their knives. New for this year, the display area will be in the back left of the show hall as opposed to the former location in the center of the hall. There, show patrons can look at all the individually displayed knives, many of which will include accompanying information on blade steel, handle materials and more. Entrants may also display their entered knives at their booths, though that is optional. Representatives of each company may stop by the display to examine and vote on the knives for the awards. Voting begins the Friday of the show and ends Saturday.

For more on the awards, stay tuned to www.blademag.com and/or see the November issue of BLADE®, on newsstands Aug. 13.

2015 Knife of the Year® Awards Recognize Best in Blades

BLADE Staff

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June 6, 2015

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2015 Knife of the Year® Awards Recognize Best in Blades

People’s Choice Knife Of The Year®: Taylor Brands Schrade SCHF36 Frontier Knife.

Atlanta, Georgia (June 6, 2015) – Awards recognizing the highest achievement in the custom and factory knife industries were bestowed the evening of Saturday, June 6, 2015, at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) in the Cobb Galleria.

Representatives from BLADE Magazine (www.blademag.com) distributed Knife of the Year® awards in 15 categories. Two of the awards—Industry Achievement and Publisher’s—went to a retail knife store and a knife-related organization, respectively, for their contributions to the world of knives.

Overall Knife Of The Year®: LionSteel T.R.E. (Three Rapid Exchange)
American-Made Knife Of The Year®: Zero Tolerance 0999
Imported Knife Of The Year®: Spyderco Nirvana
Most Innovative American Design: Koenig Zenaida
Most Innovative Imported Design: Fox Knives Desert Fox
Best Buy Of The Year: Spyderco Byrd Knife Cara Cara 2
Kitchen Knife Of The Year®: KAI USA Shun Limited Edition Chef’s Knife
Investor/Collector Knife Of The Year®: Pro-Tech Warenski Ultimate Godfather
Knife Collaboration Of The Year®: RMJ Tactical/Bawidamann Blades Tomahawk
Manufacturing Quality Award: Chris Reeve Knives
Accessory Of The Year: Wicked Edge Generation 3 Pro
People’s Choice Knife Of The Year®: Taylor Brands Schrade SCHF36 Frontier Knife
Industry Achievement Award: Shepherd Hills Cutlery
Publisher’s Award: Elephant Protection Association
BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© Inductee: Chris Reeve
Click here to see custom knife award winners

All entrants in the Knife of the Year® competition were judged on a number of factors, including utility, design, creativity, materials, aesthetics, feel and other traits.

About BLADE Show

The BLADE Show is the world’s largest, most important knife show, and has taken place every year since 1981 and in Atlanta since 1992. Upwards of 1,000 exhibitors from more than 20 countries display their knives and knife-related items over a three-day cutlery celebration that also features BLADE University knife seminars, knife auctions, custom knife awards, celebrity appearances and much more.

About BLADE

BLADE® Magazine (www.blademag.com) is the world’s No.1 knife publication. It is also the world’s oldest knife magazine, publishing its first issue in 1973. In conjunction with the BLADE Show, it has sponsored the Knife of the Year® Awards annually since 1982. The awards are the most coveted honors in the factory knife industry and are voted on by the booth exhibitors at the BLADE Show, who this year number close to 200. Only BLADE Show booth exhibitors are eligible to enter. The People’s Choice Award is open for voting to all visitors of blademag.com.

The BLADE Show and BLADE Magazine are the properties of F+W of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Deibert’s Award-Winning Mid-Bowie

Steve Shackleford

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December 18, 2012

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ABS journeyman smith Michael Deibert took home the George Peck Award for the best knife made by a journeyman smith applicant at this year’s BLADE Show.

“I forged this knife after a long look at many historical and modern bowies. After a few rough sketches I lit the forge, heated a hefty piece of 1095 and let the hammer fall. I tried to come up with something as original as possible, yet maintain the flavor of the bowie. Even though the bowie inspired this particular knife, it is a bit shorter, though I don’t consider it a ‘small knife.’ For this reason I call it the ‘Mid-Bowie.’”—Michael Deibert

Knife Name: Mid-Bowie

Maker: Michael Deibert

Award: George Peck Award for the best knife submitted by an ABS journeyman smith applicant

Blade Material: 1095 carbon steel

Blade Length: 8.5”

Handle: Stabilized spalted maple

Special Features: Guard and pin are both cold-blued mild steel; a slender clip extends the majority of the blade length

Overall Length: 13”

Maker’s List Price For a Similar Piece: $400

Click here for a full list of award recipients from the 2012 BLADE Show.

BLADE SHOW 2025 Custom Knife Award Winners

BLADE Staff

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June 9, 2025

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BLADE SHOW 2025 Custom Knife Award Winners

Craftsmanship Crowned: Winners of the 2025 Custom Knife Awards at BLADE Show

The 2025 Custom Knife Of The Year® Awards once again took center stage at BLADE Show, held June 7–9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. As always, the event drew some of the finest custom makers in the world—and this year’s field was especially fierce.

A panel of expert judges had the unenviable task of selecting standouts across a range of categories, recognizing the blades that best embodied design, innovation, and craftsmanship. From elegant folders to bold fighters, here are this year’s winners—including the coveted Hugh Bartrug Best in Show.